The United Nations reported in 2017 that over 80% of wastewater was released into the environment without adequate treatment, and for this reason, goal 6.3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) states as follows: “by 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally”. Currently, traces of organic contaminants have been found in water bodies and in wastewater treatment plant effluents. These contaminants - known as emerging contaminants - are of great concern, it is because these pollutants cause adverse ecological and human health effects. Most of these contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, pesticides, or personal care products, among others, are recalcitrant and can be found in high concentrations in industrial wastewater.
Wastewater treatment needs to be improved to address the problems that arise from the accumulation of recalcitrant and emerging contaminants in natural water bodies. Biological treatment is usually employed for wastewater recovery, mainly for economic reasons, however, it must frequently be supplemented with other techniques to efficiently degrade non-biodegradable or recalcitrant pollutants. Among these other techniques, we find coagulation, electrocoagulation, membrane processes, adsorption, and advanced oxidation processes, such as photocatalysis, Fenton, UV/hydrogen peroxide, and ozonation among others. The application of these techniques depends on the characteristics of the wastewater to be treated. This Research Topic intends to study in-depth the characterization and treatment of wastewater containing recalcitrant contaminants, to optimize the mineralization and detoxification of the effluents and maximize the reuse of water.
This research area is suggested as a platform to discuss alternatives for wastewater management that include recalcitrant and emerging contaminants in their composition, the scope of this Research Topic will be focused on some specific topics such as:
1. Regulations for Industrial wastewater reuse and management.
2. Industrial wastewater treatment options and processes optimization.
3. Physicochemical treatment of wastewater containing recalcitrant compounds.
4. Advanced oxidation and biological processes for wastewater treatment.
5. Synthesis and evaluation of materials for industrial wastewater treatment.
6. Degradation pathway and consequences of remediation options of recalcitrant contaminants in water.
7. Detoxification of wastewater.
8. The economic and life cycle assessment (LCA) of different wastewater treatment alternatives.
The United Nations reported in 2017 that over 80% of wastewater was released into the environment without adequate treatment, and for this reason, goal 6.3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) states as follows: “by 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally”. Currently, traces of organic contaminants have been found in water bodies and in wastewater treatment plant effluents. These contaminants - known as emerging contaminants - are of great concern, it is because these pollutants cause adverse ecological and human health effects. Most of these contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, pesticides, or personal care products, among others, are recalcitrant and can be found in high concentrations in industrial wastewater.
Wastewater treatment needs to be improved to address the problems that arise from the accumulation of recalcitrant and emerging contaminants in natural water bodies. Biological treatment is usually employed for wastewater recovery, mainly for economic reasons, however, it must frequently be supplemented with other techniques to efficiently degrade non-biodegradable or recalcitrant pollutants. Among these other techniques, we find coagulation, electrocoagulation, membrane processes, adsorption, and advanced oxidation processes, such as photocatalysis, Fenton, UV/hydrogen peroxide, and ozonation among others. The application of these techniques depends on the characteristics of the wastewater to be treated. This Research Topic intends to study in-depth the characterization and treatment of wastewater containing recalcitrant contaminants, to optimize the mineralization and detoxification of the effluents and maximize the reuse of water.
This research area is suggested as a platform to discuss alternatives for wastewater management that include recalcitrant and emerging contaminants in their composition, the scope of this Research Topic will be focused on some specific topics such as:
1. Regulations for Industrial wastewater reuse and management.
2. Industrial wastewater treatment options and processes optimization.
3. Physicochemical treatment of wastewater containing recalcitrant compounds.
4. Advanced oxidation and biological processes for wastewater treatment.
5. Synthesis and evaluation of materials for industrial wastewater treatment.
6. Degradation pathway and consequences of remediation options of recalcitrant contaminants in water.
7. Detoxification of wastewater.
8. The economic and life cycle assessment (LCA) of different wastewater treatment alternatives.
